Portable hand lamp



Feb. 21, 1956 c. H. WEIGHT PORTABLE HAND LAMP Filed Sept. 20, 1952 &

&

25, M1" "J 13 21 g .17 it 20 1g 25 CAGE man/v0 CONNECT/0N 26 1 4 SOCKET1g OUTLET J5 21 :23; SWITCH I l o ]3\ 27 26 55/ Z 22 gg GROUND L500 23E/VEfiG/Z/NG -33 g Z2 Z4 LEADS /\I?IVENTOR.

a2 31 CZZQg/QJH 5; Mi My United States Patent Ofifice 2,735,930 PatentedFeb. 21, 1956 PORTABLE HAND LAMP Charles H. Weight, Valparaiso, Ind.,assignor to MeGill Manufacturing Company, Inc., Valparaiso, Ind., acorporation of Indiana Application September 20, 1952, Serial No.310,603 4 Claims. (Cl. 240-54) This invention relates to portable handlamps, and more particularly to a portable hand lamp of improvedconstruction which incorporates useful features that are not to be foundin prior units of this general type.

Portable hand lamps are known in which an electrical outlet and switchare included in the handle portion, the arrangement usually being suchthat the switch controls the lamp, but has no effect upon theenergization of the outlet. Such a lamp has great practical utilitysince it provides the operator with a convenient source of energy forpower tools and the like at the working position. C- pending applicationSerial No. 99,001, entitled Handle for Portable Lamp, filed June 14,1949, in the name of Rudolf Popp, and assigned to the present assignee,and which application has now issued as Patent 2,653,219, September 22,1953, discloses and claims an improved portable lamp of the typedescribed abov In the lamp disclosed in that application, the handle isdivided longitudinally into a pair of complementary handle sections sothat the switch and other components may be installed within the handle.The various components are so arranged within the handle that they arerelieved from all strains and stresses, and also in such a manner thatthe handle section may be secured with a single screw fastener.

The present invention is directed to an improved electrical system for aportable hand lamp which may be of the same general type as thatdisclosed in the Popp application, and which system incorporates new andimproved safety and convenience features.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide an improvedelectrical system for a portable hand lamp assembly constructed toincorporate safety and convenience features not found in prior artassemblies.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an improvedelectrical system for a portable hand lamp assembly having an electricaloutlet, which system is constructed so as to enable the lamp to be usedin conjunction with a wide variety of electrical apparatus.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a hand lamp which isconstructed to have an electrical system providing a ground connectionto the guard cage associated with the lamp so that any metallic partupon which the cage may be hung is established at ground potential forthe protection of the operator.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of an electricalsystem for a hand lamp assembly incorporating an electrical outlet bymeans of which a ground connection is provided to enable the lamp to beused in conjunction with the wide variety of present day power toolswhich require a ground connection.

The above and other features of the invention which are believed to benew are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, together with further objects and advantagesthereof, may best be understood by reference to the followingdescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of the internal connections to thevarious components of the assembly.

The portable hand lamp incorporating the electrical system of thisinvention includes a hollow insulating handle. A metallic guard cage issecured to the forward end of the handle, and a lamp socket is alsodisposed in the forward end coaxially with the longitudinal axis of thehandle. A switch is disposed within the handle to the rear of the socketand has a front contact connected to the socket and also has a rearcontact. An electrical outletis formed in one of the handle sectionsadjacent the switch and comprises a pair of energizing contacts and aground contact. A group of electrical terminals is mounted on theinternal surface of the last mentioned handle section on an axistraversing the section to the rear of the outlet. Aground connection ismounted on the external surface of the last mentioned handle section atthe forward end thereof in electrical connection with the cage. A firstelectrical conductive strip is provided which connects one of theterminals to one of the energizing contacts of the outlet and to thesocket, a second conductive strip is provided which connects a second ofthe terminals to the ground contact of the outlet and to theaforementioned ground connection, while a third strip connects a thirdone of the terminals to the other of the energizing contacts of theoutlet and to the rear switch contact.

Referring now to the drawing, the hand lamp assembly of this inventionincludes a hollow insulating handle divided longitudinally into a pairof complementary handle sections 10 and 11, with a metallic guard cage12 secured in well known manner to the forward end of the handle bymeans of a retainer strip 13. A lamp socket comprising ascrew shell 14is rigidly mounted on a transverse, rectangular insulating plate 15, asin the previously mentioned Popp application, plate 15 snugly engaginggrooves on the inside surface of the handle sections so that the socketmay be rigidly supported within the handle. A switch 16 is secured tothe under side of plate 15 and has its front contact electricallyconnected to the center contact of the lamp socket. Switch 16 has anoperating key 17 which extends outwardly between the handle sections 10and 11 through appropriate slots formed therein. The construction ofswitch 16 in itself is known the switch comprising a pair of spaced,parallel frame members between which a rotatable member is supported.The rotatable member is actuated by the operating key 17 successively tomake and break contact between the front and rear contacts of theswitch, the rotatable member being actuated by the operating key in aratchet fashion.

An electrical outlet 18 is formed in handle section 11, adjacent theswitch and the outlet comprises a pair of energizing contacts 19, 20 anda ground contact 21. These contacts are of the Well known resilient typefor firmly engaging prongs of an electrical plug when such plug isinserted into the socket.

A group of electrical terminals 2224 is mounted on the internal surfaceof handle section 11 on an axis traversing the section to the rear ofoutlet 18. A ground strip 25 is mounted upon the external surface ofhandle section 11 at the forward end thereof in electrical contact withcage 12. A conductive strip 26 connects center terminal 23 to groundcontact 21 of outlet 18 and to ground strip 25 connected to cage 12. Asecond strip 27 connects terminal 22 to one of the energizing contacts19 of outlet '18 and to the shell 14 of the lamp socket. A thirdconductive strip 28 connects terminal 24 to energizing contact of outlet18, while a bent over transverse strip 29 connects the latter terminalto the rear contact of switch 16. Terminals 22, 23, and 24 areinsulatingly separated by projections 30 and 31 molded integrally withhandle section 11.

The inlet cord to the hand lamp includes a pair of energizing leads 3233which are respectively connected to terminals 22 and 24. The cord alsoincludes a ground lead 34 which is connected to terminal 23. Theaforementioned cord, which is indicated as 35, extends through anaperture in the rear of the handle and is supported in handle section 11by a bracket 36 screwed into the handle section. A rubber gasket 37 isalso provided for sealing the bottom of the handle against dirt, oil orwater. An insulating plate 38 is provided to separate the side of switch16 from strips 26, 27 and 28. The handle sections are held together bymeans of a single C-shaped bracket 39 which, as in the aforementionedcopending application, is permanently secured to handle section 11 andwhich receives a removable screw threaded through handle section 10.

As clearly shown in Fig. 4, the energizing cord supplies an energizingpotential between terminals 22 and 24 and ground potential to terminal23. The energization of terminals 22 and 24 causes a similarenergization of contacts 19 and 20 of outlet 18 due to the connectiontherebetween by strips 27 and 28. Grounding of terminal 23 causescontact 21 of outlet 18 to be grounded and also causes groundstrip and,therefore, cage 12 to be grounded. Terminal 22 is directly connected tothe shell 14 of the lamp socket by strip 27; and terminal 24 isconnected to the center contact of the lamp socket by strip 29 andthrough switch 16, so that actuation of key 17 causes energization anddeenergization of the lamp contained in the lamp socket.

It can be seen, therefore, that the invention provides a new andimproved hand lamp assembly which is constructed so that guard cage 12may be grounded to impart a corresponding ground for safety purposes toany metallic body on which the lamp may be hung. Moreover, an outlet 18is provided which includes a ground contact enabling a wide variety ofpower tools requiring a ground connection to be used in conjunction withthe lamp. The lamp is so arranged that these new and improved featuresmay be incorporated without unnecessarily crowding its internalconstituent parts or detracting in any way from the insulation betweenthe various electrical components within the lamp. Terminals 22, 23 and24 are rigidly secured to handle section 11 and adequately insulatedfrom one another by the molded projections and 31. The variousconductive strips extending from the terminals to the various componentsof the lamp are also rigidly mounted on the handle section and spacedone from the other a sufticient distance for adequate insulation.Moreover, the parts are arranged and supported in such an improvedmanner on one of the handle sections that the lamp may be readilyserviced.

I claim:

1. In a portable lamp having a hollow handle divided longitudinally intoa pair of first and second complementary handle sections, a metallicguard cage secured to the forward end of the handle, a lamp socketmounted in the forward end of the handle coaxial with the longitudinalaxis thereof, and a switch mounted in the handle to the rear of the lampsocket having a first contact electrically connected to the lamp socketand having a second contact; an electrical system including incombination, a group of electrical terminals rigidly mounted on theinternal surface of the first handle section and spaced and insulatedone from the other on a transverse axis to the rear of the switch, anelectrically conductive ground strip mounted on the external surface ofthe first handle section at the forward end thereof in electricalcontact with the metallic guard cage, a group of electrically conductivestrips rigidly mounted on the internal surface of the first handlesection spaced and insulated one from the other, one of said stripsbeing connected from one of said terminals to the lamp socket, a secondof said strips being connected from a second of said terminals to saidground strip, an electrical conductor connected from a third of saidterminals to the second contact of the switch, and an inlet cord forconnecting the lamp to a source of power and including a pair ofenergizing leads respectively connected to said one of said terminalsand to said third of said terminals and including a ground leadconnected to said second terminal.

2. In a portable lamp having a hollow handle divided longitudinally intoa pair of first and second complementary sections, a lamp socket mountedin the forward end of the handle coaxial with the longitudinal axisthereof, a switch mounted in the handle to the rear of the lamp sockethaving a first contact electrically connected to the lamp socket andhaving a second contact, and an electrical outlet formed in the firsthandle section adjacent the switch; an electrical system including incombination, a group of three electrical terminals rigidly mounted onthe internal surface of the first handle section and spaced andinsulated one from the other on a transverse axis to the rear of theoutlet, a pair of resilient energizing contacts and a resilient groundcontact disposed within the electrical outlet, a group of threeelectrically conductive strips rigidly mounted on the internal surfaceof the first handle section spaced and insulated one from the other, oneof said strips being connected to one of said terminals and to one ofsaid energizing contacts of the outlet and to the lamp socket, thesecond of said strips being connected from the second of said terminalsto the other of said energizing contacts of the outlet, the third ofsaid strips being connected from the third of said terminals to saidground contact of the outlet, an electrical conductor connected fromsaid second terminal to the second contact of the switch, and an inletcord for connecting the lamp to an energizing source and including apair of energizing leads respectively connected to said one of saidterminals and to said second of said terminals and including a groundlead connected to said third of said terminals.

3. In a portable lamp having a hollow handle divided longitudinally intoa pair of first and second complementary handle sections, a metallicguard cage secured to the forward end of the handle, a lamp socketmounted in the forward end of the handle coaxial with the longitudinalaxis thereof, a switch mounted in the handle to the rear of the lampsocket having a first contact electrically connected to the lamp socketand having a second contact, and an electrical outlet formed in thefirst handle section adjacent the switch; an electrical system includingin combination, a group of three electrical terminals rigidly mounted onthe internal surface of the first handle section and spaced andinsulated one from the other on a transverse axis to the rear of theoutlet, an electrically conductive ground strip mounted on the externalsurface of the first handle section at the forward end thereof inelectrical contact with the metallic guard cage, a pair of resilientenergizing contacts and a resilient ground contact disposed within theelectrical outlet, a group of three electrically conductive stripsrigidly mounted on the internal surface of the first handle sectionspaced and insulated one from the other, one of said strips beingconnected from one of said terminals to one of said energizing contactsof the outlet and to the lamp socket, the second of said strips beingconnected from the second of said terminals to the other of saidenergizing contacts of the outlet, the third of said strips beingconnected from the third of said terminals to said ground contact of theoutlet and to said ground strip, an electrical conductor connected fromsaid second terminal to the sec- 0nd contact of the switch, and an inletcord for connecting the lamp to an energizing source and including apair of energizing leads respectively connected to said one of saidterminals and to said second of said terminals and including a groundlead connected to said third of said terminals.

4. In a portable lamp having a hollow handle divided longitudinally intoa pair of first and second complementary handle sections, a metallicguard cage secured to the forward end of the handle, a lamp socketmounted in the forward end of the handle coaxial with the longitudinalaXis thereof, a switch mounted in the handle to the rear of the lampsocket having a first contact electrically connected to the lamp socketand having a second contact, and an electrical outlet formed in thefirst handle section adjacent the switch; an electrical system includingin combination, a group of three electrical terminals rigidly mounted onthe internal surface of the first handle section spaced and insulatedfrom on another and aligned along a transverse axis to the rear of theoutlet to constitute a first outer terminal and an inner terminal and asecond outer terminal, an electrically conductive ground connectionmounted on the external surface of the first handle section at theforward end thereof in electrical contact with the metallic guard cage,a pair of resilient energizing contacts and a resilient ground contactdisposed within the electrical outlet, a first electrically conductivestrip rigidly mounted on the internal surface of the first handlesection and electrically connected at its respective ends to said firstouter terminal and to the lamp socket, said strip having an intermediatepoint electrically connected to one of the energizing contacts of theoutlet, a second electrically conductive strip rigidly mounted on theinternal surface of the first handle section spaced and insulated fromsaid first strip and electrically connected at its respective ends tosaid second outer terminal and to the other of said energizing contactsof the outlet, a third electrically conductive strip rigidly mounted onthe internal surface of the first handle section intermediate said firstand second strips and spaced and insulated therefrom, said third stripbeing electrically connected at its respective ends to said innerterminal and to said ground connection, and said third strip beingconnected at an intermediate point to said ground contact of the outlet,a fourth electrically conductive strip electrically connected at itsrespective ends to said second outer terminal and to the second contactof the switch and an inlet cord for connecting the lamp to a source ofpower and including a pair of energizing leads respectively connected tosaid first and second outer terminals and including a ground leadconnected to said inner terminal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,782,527 Bennett Nov. 25, 1930 1,976,362 Nielsen Oct. 9, 1934 2,567,687Benander Sept. 11, 1951 2,653,219 Popp Sept. 22, 1953

